Board hoping for miracle to save historic Camp House

Published: Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 5:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 5:38 p.m.

Preservationists are holding their breaths in hopes that someone of means with a love of historic homes will come forward soon to purchase and restore the stately Camp House on Southeast Fifth Street before that important piece of Ocala's history is lost forever.

The two-story Victorian home is located at 910 SE Fifth St., one of the city's most prestigious addresses, in the Ocala Historic District.

The Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board has done all it can do legally to prevent the home, which has fallen into serious disrepair, from being destroyed. In 2012, OHPAB denied owner Dorothy Ritterhoff's request to demolish the house. But, under the city's ordinances, that denial is only effective for one year.

That year ended March 1, and Ritterhoff is free to take the structure down.

So far, Ritterhoff has not requested a demolition permit from the city, Peter Lee, the city's chief planning official, told the OHPAB board Thursday.

Steven Gray, Ritterhoff's attorney, could not be reached for comment on Friday.

The house has been on the market for the year, but some say the high price has discouraged buyers, who also would have to spend a considerable amount of money to restore the house to its former splendor. The roughly 6,000-square-foot home has been divided into 12 apartments. The city law no longer allows it to be used as a multi-family residence.

Suzanne Thomas, who sits on the Historic Ocala Preservation Society board and who works for Roberts Realty, which has listed the home for sale, asked if the owner's right to demolish lasts forever.

"It's not quite so explicit," Lee said.

He said he would check with city attorneys, but opined that it didn't follow that, if someone did buy the house and repair it and then decided in five years or so they no longer wanted the home that they could destroy it.

"It doesn't make sense to me," Lee said.

Thomas said HOPS is very interested in seeing that the home is saved and is considering offering some financial assistance to whoever might buy and restore the home, but HOPS would not want to do so if that person could come in and tear it down.

"But we feel strongly about trying to save this beautiful structure," Thomas said.

Although the HOPS board has earmarked $100,000 to assist in the preservation effort of the Camp home, it still is working on formulating a plan for some type of partnership agreement.

Thomas told the OHPAB board that the home, which sits on 1.5 acres, has been on the market for $900,000. She said she receives calls about the home "all the time." But she said comparable homes and property in the historic district have sold for about $475,000.

OHPAB Chairman Ira Holmes remains hopeful.

"All it takes is a miracle, and I believe in miracles," Holmes said after the meeting.

He said other historic homes that were in bad repair, such as the Presbyterian Manse and the Seven Sisters Inn, were saved.

"It has happened in better times, and that's a real challenge now," Holmes said. "What we are looking for is someone who is in love. That's a dream house."

The home, with its Queen Anne Revival influence and wrap-around porches and Doric columns, was built in 1903 by William Nelson Camp, one of Ocala's most prominent businessmen, having owned a phosphate mine. In 1911, Camp organized the Florida Power Company and built the first hydroelectric dam in Florida on the Withlacoochee River. The Camp family was prominent in Ocala and Marion County's development and in local and statewide politics. The Camps owned much of the land on both the north and south sides of Southeast Fifth Street. Camp's home sits on the southeast corner of what was then Buckalew Street.

<p>Preservationists are holding their breaths in hopes that someone of means with a love of historic homes will come forward soon to purchase and restore the stately Camp House on Southeast Fifth Street before that important piece of Ocala's history is lost forever.</p><p>The two-story Victorian home is located at 910 SE Fifth St., one of the city's most prestigious addresses, in the Ocala Historic District.</p><p>The Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board has done all it can do legally to prevent the home, which has fallen into serious disrepair, from being destroyed. In 2012, OHPAB denied owner Dorothy Ritterhoff's request to demolish the house. But, under the city's ordinances, that denial is only effective for one year.</p><p>That year ended March 1, and Ritterhoff is free to take the structure down.</p><p>So far, Ritterhoff has not requested a demolition permit from the city, Peter Lee, the city's chief planning official, told the OHPAB board Thursday.</p><p>Steven Gray, Ritterhoff's attorney, could not be reached for comment on Friday.</p><p>The house has been on the market for the year, but some say the high price has discouraged buyers, who also would have to spend a considerable amount of money to restore the house to its former splendor. The roughly 6,000-square-foot home has been divided into 12 apartments. The city law no longer allows it to be used as a multi-family residence.</p><p>Suzanne Thomas, who sits on the Historic Ocala Preservation Society board and who works for Roberts Realty, which has listed the home for sale, asked if the owner's right to demolish lasts forever.</p><p>"It's not quite so explicit," Lee said.</p><p>He said he would check with city attorneys, but opined that it didn't follow that, if someone did buy the house and repair it and then decided in five years or so they no longer wanted the home that they could destroy it.</p><p>"It doesn't make sense to me," Lee said.</p><p>Thomas said HOPS is very interested in seeing that the home is saved and is considering offering some financial assistance to whoever might buy and restore the home, but HOPS would not want to do so if that person could come in and tear it down.</p><p>"But we feel strongly about trying to save this beautiful structure," Thomas said.</p><p>Although the HOPS board has earmarked $100,000 to assist in the preservation effort of the Camp home, it still is working on formulating a plan for some type of partnership agreement.</p><p>Thomas told the OHPAB board that the home, which sits on 1.5 acres, has been on the market for $900,000. She said she receives calls about the home "all the time." But she said comparable homes and property in the historic district have sold for about $475,000.</p><p>OHPAB Chairman Ira Holmes remains hopeful.</p><p>"All it takes is a miracle, and I believe in miracles," Holmes said after the meeting.</p><p>He said other historic homes that were in bad repair, such as the Presbyterian Manse and the Seven Sisters Inn, were saved.</p><p>"It has happened in better times, and that's a real challenge now," Holmes said. "What we are looking for is someone who is in love. That's a dream house."</p><p>The home, with its Queen Anne Revival influence and wrap-around porches and Doric columns, was built in 1903 by William Nelson Camp, one of Ocala's most prominent businessmen, having owned a phosphate mine. In 1911, Camp organized the Florida Power Company and built the first hydroelectric dam in Florida on the Withlacoochee River. The Camp family was prominent in Ocala and Marion County's development and in local and statewide politics. The Camps owned much of the land on both the north and south sides of Southeast Fifth Street. Camp's home sits on the southeast corner of what was then Buckalew Street.</p><p><i>Contact Susan Latham Carr at 867-4156 or susan.carr@starbanner.com.</i></p>